This easy cast iron steak recipe makes the most tender and juicy steaks with a perfect sear. Just warm your skillet and cook up the best steaks of your life in 20 minutes. You won’t find a better way to make steak!
Why You’ll Love This Cast Iron Steak Recipe
- Easy: Simpler than heating up the grill, cooking steak in cast iron is a simple and quick process. Your steak will be ready in minutes and you will only have one pan to clean.
- Cast Iron: Unlike other kinds of pans, a cast iron pan retains heat consistently at a high temperature. This creates a chemical reaction, called the Maillard reaction, resulting in a well-browned, flavorful crust on your steak.
- Juicy: If you follow our steps for using room temperature steak and allowing it to rest after cooking, you will have a perfect tender and juicy steak!
Looking for more ways to make steak? Try our recipes for air fryer steak bites, chicken fried steak and how to cook a skirt steak!
Recipe Ingredients
Here is a quick look at what you’ll need to cook steak in a cast iron skillet. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
- Steak: We used a New York Strip, but this method works with any cut. Choose a thick steak that is at least 1-inch thick, with 1.5-inch thick being the goal. A thin steak will cook too quickly and become tough. Steaks thicker than 1.5-inch may need to be finished in the oven. (Directions below in tips section.)
- Steak Seasoning: Try our homemade steak seasoning, or this Montreal steak seasoning is our favorite store-bought version.
- Avocado Oil: If you use a different oil, ensure it has a high smoke point. Do not use olive oil as it will burn!
- Butter: You can use regular butter, or go for more flavor with garlic herb butter!
- Worcestershire Sauce
How to Cook a Steak in a Cast Iron Skillet
Are you ready to make a tender, juicy, perfectly cooked steak? Scroll to the recipe card at bottom of the post for full detailed instructions.
- Season the steak. Then let it come to room temperature.
- Heat oil a cast iron skillet over high heat. Gently place the steaks in the oil. Move them around a bit so they don’t stick in the hot pan.
- Sear steak on each side for 2 minutes. Continue cooking until your steak reaches your desired level of doneness. Then add the Worcestershire sauce and the butter.
- Let the steaks rest. Remove the steaks from the skillet and loosely cover with foil to rest for at least 5 minutes.
- Serve. Drizzle any leftover sauce from the skillet onto the steaks when serving.
At What Temperature is Steak Done?
We recommend using an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of your steak for doneness. This ensures you do not under or overcook your steak. Here are the approximate cooking times and temperatures:
- 9 to 12 minutes = rare 120°F to 130°F
- 11 to 13 minutes = medium rare 130°F to 140°F
- 13 to 16 minutes = medium 140°F to 145°F
- 15 to 19 minutes = medium well 145°F to 155°F
Tips for Success
These three important tips will ensure your steak turns out perfectly!
- Room Temperature: Letting your steak come to room temperature before cooking is very important. Room temperature steaks will cook in less time, giving the meat less time to lose moisture while cooking, making it juicier. Additionally, a cold steak will contract more when you put it on the grill, pushing more of the juices out.
- Rest: After your steaks have finished cooking, wrapped them in foil and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. As the steak rests, the muscle fibers that have constricted during cooking can relax. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, ensuring each bite is tender and juicy.
- Finish In Oven: If your steak is thicker than 1 1/2 inches, you will likely need to finish them in the oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F before you start cooking. After searing the steaks on each side, transfer them in the cast iron skillet into the oven. Cook until they reach your desired temperature.
What To Serve With Cast Iron Steak
Looking for some side dishes to serve with your cast iron skillet steak? Here are some of our favorites:
- Potatoes: The phrase “steak and potatoes” is a cultural norm for a reason! We recommend roasted sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes or these roasted baby potatoes. This twice baked potato casserole is a great fancier option!
- Veggies: We love this classic roasted broccoli, these southern style green beans with bacon or these easy bacon Brussel sprouts.
- Salad: A shaved brussels sprouts salad or refreshing cucumber tomato salad would also be delicious!
- Bread: A side of homemade garlic bread or beer bread are great with a steak.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge: Let your steak cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Place cooled steak in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat: Warm steak in microwave for about 1 minute, until heated through. For best results, reheat in an air fryer at 325°F for 2 to 3 minutes, until warmed through.
More Easy Beef Dinner Ideas
- Crockpot Beef Stew
- Skirt Steak Marinade
- Air Fryer London Broil
- Beef Tips and Gravy
- Salisbury Steak
- Smothered Cube Steak
Yield: 2 servings
Cast Iron Steak
This easy cast iron steak recipe makes the most tender and juicy steaks with a perfect sear in 20 minutes. You won’t find a better way to make steak!
Ingredients
- 2 boneless New York Strip Steaks, at least 1” thick
- 2 tablespoons homemade steak seasoning
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, or garlic herb butter
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Evenly season both sides of the steaks. Set on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes, or until room temperature. (This step is optional, but important if you want your steak to cook evenly and be extra tender!)
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for at least 2 minutes. Once skillet is very hot, add oil. Test oil to make sure it is hot. (You can test the oil by dropping one drop of water into the oil. If it sizzles, the oil is hot.)
- Using tongs, carefully place the steaks into the hot oil, gently move the steaks a tiny bit so they do not stick.
- Sear steaks on each side for 2 minutes. Then turn the heat down to medium and continue to cook on each side for 6 minutes more or until the steak reaches the temperature you like. (See notes below for cooking times and steak temperatures.)
- Once steak reaches desired doneness, add the Worcestershire sauce to the top of the steaks and then the butter. Let the butter melt and coat the steaks in it.
- Remove the steaks from the skillet and loosely cover with foil. Allow steaks to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle any leftover sauce from the skillet onto the steaks when serving.
Notes
Steak Temperature: We highly recommend using an instant read thermometer to check your steak for doneness. This ensures you do not under or overcook your steak.
- 9 to 12 minutes = rare 120°F to 130°F
- 11 to 13 minutes = medium rare 130°F to 140°F
- 13 to 16 minutes = medium 140°F to 145°F
- 15 to 19 minutes = medium well 145°F to 155°F
Nutrition
Serving: 1 steak, Calories: 642kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 44g, Fat: 50g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 22g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 180mg, Sodium: 369mg, Potassium: 800mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 462IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 66mg, Iron: 7mg
